Category: Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda (NPA) — The Government of Uganda has flagged off a 69-member contingent to participate in the 14th edition of the East African Community (EAC) Command Post Exercise (CPX), codenamed “Ushirikiano Imara 26,” scheduled to hold in Nairobi from May 8 to May 28, 2026.

The contingent comprises personnel drawn from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service and civilian agencies.

The flag-off ceremony was officiated by the Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, Micheal Kabango, who described the exercise as a major step in advancing regional integration within the East African Community.

“This exercise you are going for is a testimony of the milestone in the integration of the East African federation. It will create a platform for East African forces to work together and address contemporary security challenges,” Brig. Gen. Kabango said.

He urged the contingent to maintain discipline and professionalism throughout the exercise, noting that they would be representing Uganda on a regional stage.

“Carry our flag high, make it shine, and represent our country with honour and integrity,” he added.

The Commander of Headquarters Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC), Ernest Nuwagaba, who is leading the contingent, said the team includes military, police and civilian components aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination among EAC partner states.

“This multi-dimensional team will strengthen coordination among states and inter-agency actors working together in a unified mission environment,” Brig. Gen. Nuwagaba said.

The head of the police component, Senior Superintendent of Police Denis Ochama, said the police team would contribute to joint operational planning and coordinated response efforts during the exercise.

Speaking on behalf of the civilian component, Senior Immigration Officer Joseph Humphrey Wejuli said the civilian team includes experts from immigration services, correctional institutions and humanitarian organisations.

According to him, the civilian component will provide mission support and advisory services throughout the exercise.

The “Ushirikiano Imara 26” exercise is being conducted under the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and is designed to strengthen the capacity of armed forces, police services, civilian agencies and other stakeholders in responding jointly to evolving regional security threats.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (NPA) — The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and the Deputy Chairperson, Selma Malika Haddadi, have reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to staff welfare, institutional efficiency and sustainable reforms during a meeting with the AU Staff Association.

The meeting, held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, provided an opportunity for dialogue between the Commission’s management and staff members on issues affecting the organisation and its workforce.

In their remarks, the AU leaders commended staff members for their dedication, professionalism and continued commitment to advancing the mandate of the organisation in service of African citizens.

They also stressed the importance of strengthening staff welfare and institutional capacity through sustainable approaches and broader support mechanisms.

According to the Commission, the leadership underscored the need for continued engagement with member states in pursuit of lasting solutions aimed at safeguarding the effectiveness and long-term stability of the Commission, including issues relating to the implementation of the Skills Audit and Competency Assessment (SACA).

Staff members at the meeting reportedly expressed appreciation for reforms undertaken so far in the interest of staff welfare and institutional efficiency, while reaffirming their commitment to supporting the goals of the organisation.

The Chairperson urged staff to continue working in a spirit of solidarity, professionalism and collective responsibility to ensure the effective delivery of the African Union’s priorities and programmes.

Meanwhile, the African Union Commission has strongly condemned the terrorist attack carried out on Monday, May 4, 2026, against a military base in Barka Tolorom, located on the Chadian shore of Lake Chad.

The Commission said the attack resulted in casualties and injuries among Chadian defence forces.

In a statement, the AU Commission expressed condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Chad, while wishing those injured a swift recovery.

The Commission also reiterated the AU’s solidarity with member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission engaged in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the region.

It further reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to supporting Chad and countries within the Lake Chad Basin through existing cooperation mechanisms, liaison structures and relevant regional security initiatives aimed at combating terrorism.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The ECOWAS Parliament has ordered an investigation into the escalating wave of terrorism across West Africa, as well as recent xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants in South Africa.

The resolution was adopted during plenary at the First 2026 Ordinary Session of the regional parliament held on Tuesday in Abuja, following a motion raised by Ghanaian lawmaker and Third Deputy Speaker, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on a matter he described as one of “urgent, direct and profound importance.”

The parliament subsequently mandated its Committee on Political Affairs to investigate recent terror incidents across the sub-region, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso, alongside xenophobic violence in South Africa affecting citizens of ECOWAS member states.

Presenting the motion, Afenyo-Markin called for urgent accountability and stronger protections for West African nationals, citing growing concerns over their safety both within the sub-region and abroad.

“A regional community that cannot protect its own citizens in transit has not yet earned its name,” he said, invoking Rule 71 of the Parliament.

The lawmaker recalled the February 14 terrorist attack in northern Burkina Faso, where militants linked to Al-Qaeda reportedly intercepted a truck carrying 18 Ghanaian tomato traders. He said the attackers separated the men from the women before executing them and setting the vehicle ablaze with the driver inside.

“These were not statistics. They were breadwinners, fathers and sons — the quiet engines of the regional supply chain that feeds our markets,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin also referenced a separate attack in Mali on April 25, which he said claimed the life of Defence Minister Gen. Sadio Camara, adding that the incident disrupted the Ghana–Mali trade corridor and heightened fears over cross-border travel.

He criticised what he described as ECOWAS’ failure to fully implement the 1979 Free Movement Protocol, noting that conflicting national policies have continued to expose citizens to harassment at borders.

“The daily reality of our citizens contradicts the promise at every turn,” he added.

On xenophobic violence, the Ghanaian MP cited incidents in KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town, and Pretoria, where nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia were reportedly killed, displaced, or had their businesses looted.

He noted that recent remarks by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemning xenophobia were insufficient without concrete enforcement measures.

“Words delivered from a ceremonial platform do not arrest a single perpetrator. The safety of our people must never be a matter open to devastation,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin urged the South African government to conduct immediate, thorough, and transparent investigations into the attacks and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted.

He further proposed that a formal communication be sent to the South African Parliament and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights for appropriate action.

DODOMA, Tanzania (NPA) — President William Ruto of Kenya has called on member states of the East African Community (EAC) to abandon rivalry, suspicion, and mistrust in order to strengthen regional integration and economic cooperation.

Ruto made the remarks at the conclusion of his two-day state visit to Tanzania, where he held bilateral talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan and signed eight agreements aimed at expanding cooperation between both countries.

According to the Kenyan leader, divisions and unhealthy competition among countries in the region have weakened regional markets, limited collective progress, and undermined the bloc’s influence. “We must move beyond competition, suspicion, rivalry, and mistrust that have fragmented our markets, weakened our voice, and constrained our collective progress,” Ruto said.

He noted that stronger collaboration within the region would help the bloc achieve deeper integration and maximize opportunities emerging from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“This spirit must guide the East African Community as we expand continental integration to unlock opportunities being created by the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he stated.

Ruto also stressed the need for African countries to speak with one voice in pushing for reforms within the African Union and the United Nations to make the institutions more inclusive and responsive to African interests.

The Kenyan President said Nairobi and Dodoma were strengthening bilateral relations to unlock greater economic opportunities through increased trade, investment, infrastructure development, and supportive integration policies. “We recognise that the progress and setbacks of Kenya and Tanzania are intertwined,” he added.

Ruto disclosed that Kenya and Tanzania had set a target of 130 billion Kenyan shillings in new trade and 65 billion Kenyan shillings in fresh cross-border investments.

According to him, achieving the target would require the removal of barriers hindering the free movement of people, goods, and services across both countries.

He identified border delays, non-harmonised standards, and restricted market access as major obstacles affecting trade growth within the region.

“We have set ourselves a June 30, 2026 target to ensure all these barriers are removed,” he said.

Ruto further announced that the Kenya-Tanzania Joint Business Council would serve as the primary platform for structured economic collaboration, while the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum would become an annual event to monitor implementation and identify new opportunities.

The Kenyan leader and President Samia Suluhu Hassan also addressed the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum in Dar es Salaam, which brought together more than 300 business leaders and private sector stakeholders.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing a stable and predictable business environment anchored on regulatory clarity, investor protection, and private sector-driven growth.